Tucson, AZ

Mar 28, 2012 to Apr 12, 2012

Tucson, AZ was quite an amazing town!!!!  We initially came to Tucson to visit Jim's cousin Linda.  She had told us to go to the Desert Diamond Casino to park until we could find a more permanent place to stay with the camper. Since "Home is where you park it", the Casino parking lot was home for two nights.  We then called around to find a campground that could take our behemoth, most of them were full or unable to accommodate us.  We were directed to some BLM land 8 miles west of town.  We packed it up and drove over there to find a perfectly acceptable spot for us.

Casino parking at it's finest!!!

Home is where you park it!!!



We were taking pictures of each other taking pictures!!
You have to keep your self  amused.


















We visited with Jim's cousin Linda at her casida (small apartment).  They (Linda and Richard) had the cutest front porch that we enjoyed the number of times we went to visit.

Linda's front porch

Cactus grow great here!!!



When in the desert, grow cactus.
















When we got into town we went to the Chamber of Commerce to find out what there was to see and do.  They suggested we purchase a Tucson Attraction Passport for $18.00.  What a great bargain!!!  We actually got to see twice as much stuff.  There were a lot of 2 for 1 discounts.  We were busy the whole time we were there with things to see and places to go!!!!

Believe it or not we parked very close to some of the area attractions:

We went to OLD TUCSON.  They still shoot movies there now.  (We got the DVD of Cowboys and Aliens and saw a lot of the building in the movie that were in Old Tucson.)



Then on to Saguaro National Park-West.  Since this was a national park we once again got in for free!!!



I forgot to get the entrance sign...
so I took the exit sign.



Lots of cactus!!!

More rock graphite



A Saguaro Cactus

Saguaros grow very slowly.  After 15 years it may be barely 12 inches tall.  At about 30 years the saguaros begin to flower and produce fruit.  By 50 years they can be as tall as seven feet.  After 75 years it may sprout its first branches or arms.  By 100 years the saguaro may reach 25 feet.  The Saguaros that live to 150 years may attain 50 feet and weigh 16,000 pounds.

PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

 

This was an art project.  The air museum donated the
aircraft parts for area students to decorate.



Part of the art project.

Now on to the  BONEYARD.  This was a controlled tour.  We were in a tour bus and were not allowed off for any reason.  We were allowed to take pictures.

There were row.....

after row......



after row of decommissioned aircraft.




There were a lot of airplanes!!!!

 



TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM:

This was not the original missile.  Quite impressive none the less.

It was 10 stories deep.

We also visited:

COLOSSAL CAVE.  http://www.colossalcave.com/



No bats...but there are some hiding!!!



TUSCON BOTANICAL GARDENS

http://www.tucsonbotanical.org/

Very nice Botanical Garden.

I couldn't resist taking pictures of the flowers!!

BIOSPHERE 2

http://www.b2science.org/

Very enlightening.  They were not self sufficient during

the two years that the scientist were living inside.

KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY

www.noao.edu/outreach/kpurtreach



SAN XAVIER MISSION





TOMBSTONE, AZ

http://www.okcorral.com/



The original Bird Cage Theatre.



Tombstone Silver Nugget Saloon.

 

A street entertainer....or just crazy.  Hard to say



What would a visit to Tombstone be with out going to
Boothill!!!!



Clanton & McLaury gang killed by Doc Holiday & Wyatt Erupp.



They have a sense of humor.





Tucson was quite the adventure.  Of all the places we did get to, there were lots more places that we have yet to see.  This will give us an excuse to go back to Tucson and see the rest of it, and visit with cousin Linda again.

Life is a Journey...Enjoy it

Jim and Barb

On our way to Organ Pipe Cactus National Park

Mar 26, 2012 to Mar 28, 2012

After leaving Phoenix International Raceway we headed south on Rt 85 toward Organ Pipe Cactus National Park.  We were told by quite a few people that it may be dangerous to Camp there in the Park so we decided to stop in Gila Bend.

Gila Bend was a little sleepy town with not much there.  I took this picture of the scenery from behind the campground we stayed in.

Then there was the visitor center for the town:

I really wish I would have taken a picture of the court yard to the visitor center.  They are really big on metal sculptures for the yards.  Nothing grows but cactus, so you have to do something to liven it up.

Have you noticed through all of these pictures how blue the sky is?  I love the sky here!!!!

Now for the reason that we went this direction:

ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL PARK.

The great thing about getting old is the SENIOR PASS for all of the National Parks and Forests.  It is FREE to get in.

The park ranger told Jim that if you step into this cactus you can hear it whisper.  I found that you can hear it hum.  Really strange sensation.  A fungus made the inner cactus arms deformed.

It wasn't just about the cactus...there were some neat rock formations also.

This National Park was along the Mexican border.  I  am not sure why anyone would even attempt to cross into the United States at this point.  The desert is not the most hospitable place.  Every things here either bits, stings, sticks or jabs you.  Even the flowers in the desert has sticky things!!!


Until later.

Jim and Barb.